From Research to Real Impact: Strengthening University-Community Partnerships for Lasting Change

Dr. Lilian Omondi (MSU) shared her insights on how collaborations between RLLL communities and universities be improved to ensure long-term benefits and meaningful change.

Many student projects offer promising solutions, but they often end when the semester does. Establishing long-term partnerships between universities and the community would ensure that research efforts build upon each other rather than starting from scratch with each new student cohort. One way to achieve this is through a community-university research hub, where students and community members can co-develop solutions over time and track long-term impact.  Additionally, hands-on training and capacity-building should be expanded so that the community is empowered to sustain and scale up these projects independently.

Instead of research being a one-way process, universities can offer practical training sessions where students and faculty work alongside community members to teach skills such as data analysis, climate-smart agriculture, and environmental monitoring. This shift from knowledge transfer to knowledge co-creation ensures that the community remains actively engaged in driving solutions forward. 

Another critical step is ensuring that community voices drive research priorities. Too often, research projects are dictated by academic interests rather than addressing what the community truly needs. Creating community advisory panels that co-develop research agendas with universities would ensure that projects are aligned with real needs and have a direct, meaningful impact. If climate change adaptation is a key concern in Dunga, then research should focus on flood resilience, sustainable fisheries, and alternative livelihoods, rather than topics that may be academically interesting but have little relevance to the community’s daily challenges. 

Funding also plays a crucial role in sustaining impact. Many brilliant ideas emerge from student-community collaborations, but without funding, they remain just ideas. If universities, donors, and local governments invest in scaling up successful student projects, pilot initiatives can transform into full-scale community development programs. Establishing innovation grants for students and community groups to continue implementing their solutions beyond the project period would ensure lasting impact. Additionally, linking university-led projects with government policies and local economic initiatives would help integrate these solutions into larger development frameworks. 

The RLLL initiative demonstrates that when universities and communities work together, real change happens. By strengthening collaboration, ensuring long-term engagement, and prioritizing community-driven solutions, we can create a future where research is not just an academic exercise but a tool for solving real-world problems.  This pilot program has already shown immense potential. Imagine what could be achieved if more departments/schools, more students, and more communities joined forces. The impact could extend beyond Dunga, shaping a new model for experiential learning and community-driven innovation across Kenya and beyond.